Coin-operated voice recording machine



July 3, 1945. v SQUIRE 2,379,548

COIN OPERATED VOICE RECORbING MACHINE Filed m rcn e, 1942 INVENTQR.

IV/r/VESS: I

Patented July 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" COIN -PERATED VOICE RECORDING MACHINE Edmund M. Squire, Babylon, N. Y.

Application March 9,1942, Serial No. 433,911

'1 Claims. (Cl. 179-4002) avoiding the cost of energizing the amplifier while magnetic recording device itselfis not a part ofmy invention.

I attain these objects by the electrical mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich- Figure 1 is a schematic circuit drawing of the entire machine;

Figure 2 is a detail showing the arrangement of electrical contacts which are controlled by the magnetic tape.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures. A thin steel tape I passes over three long rollers 2 and a fourth long driver roller 3. Roller 3 is driven by belt 4 which connects it to electricmotor 5. Tape I is endless and is looped around the four long rollers 2 and 3 many times, crossing overat rollers 6 and 6'. When the machine is in operation the entire length of the tape I will pass under the magnetic heads I, 8, and 9 and this will continue repeatedly as long as the motor continues to drive roller 3.

Contacts I 0 and II are disposed on the machine in any convenient manner and arranged to be controlled by a notch I4 in tape I. This is best illustrated in Figure 2. A roller I3 is pro- I4 and contact arm II is forced into engagement with contact I0.

Amplifier 25 may be of any desired constructipn. It must be adapted to amplify currents within the frequency range of the human voice, and preferably the wider frequency range of mu.- sical instruments.

Amplifier 25 is provided with input terminals I8 and I9, and output terminals 20 and 2|. Terminals 23 and 24 are for the alternating current power supply to the amplifier. Terminal 2I is grounded to the amplifier chassis and terminal 22 is internally connected to supply direct current from the rectifier within the amplifier for use as hereinafter described. To draw current from the internal rectifier, an external circuit is established between terminals 22 and 2|.

In changing from recording to reproduction, the input and output circuits of amplifier 25 are switched substantially simultaneously by relays 26 and 21 respectively, whose operating windings 34 and 35 are connected in multiple. When energized, the coils of these relays are supplied with direct current by the internal rectifier of the amplifier in order to avoid electrostatic shielding problems with respect to the amplifier input circuit which would otherwise arise if the windings were energized by alternating current. Of course, suitably designed and shielded alternating current relays may be used if desired.

A microphone 2B is provided for recording on the magnetic tape. A loud speaker 30 is provided for reproducing the recorded sounds. The output level of loudspeaker 30 is adjustable by volume control 29.

In order to permit the use oi. low voltage insulation on as much of the control apparatus as I 1 connected by the dotted portions of conductors vided with a circumferential slot which engages I3, the roller I3 is forced by spring I5 into notch,

Roller I3 is semay be separated by a convenient distance, which will permit the more. bulky magnetic recording device to be placed in an inconspicuous location while the coin control mechanism is placed for convenient access by the public. In this case, microphone 28 and loudspeaker 36, together with volume control 29 should be located near the coin control apparatus.

A coin chute is disposed to receive coins which will deflect lever 46 in the course of their passage along chute 45. Lever 46 is normally held in yielding engagement with fixed stop pin 41. by retractile spring 48. When a coin drops in chute 45, contact lever 46 momentarily engages. fixed contact 49, returning thereafter to its original position. When the contact 49 is engaged by contact lever 46, a circuit is established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 46, 56, and 5|, relay winding 52 of relay 53, resistor 54, contact arm 46, contact 49, conductors 55, 56, 51 and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33, This energizes relay 53, causing it to operate. The resistance of resistor 54 is as low as possible, but high enough so that no injury would result to either contacts 46-49, or contacts I6-I I, if transformer secondary winding 33 were short-circuited through these contacts, momentarily.

Operation of relay 52, closes a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 46, 56, 5|, relay winding 52, contacts 58-59,

This has the effect of establishing a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 46, 66, winding 68 of relay 61, conductor 36, relay contacts 69-16, conductors 1|, 56, 51 and 4|, back to the other side of winding 33. Relay 61 is of the mechanically latched type, being provided with a contact closing winding or operating winding 68 and a contact opening or tripping winding 86. An impulse to winding 68 will close the contacts and they will remain closed until winding 86 is energized. Relays of this type are well known, and it is not important to the operation of the circuit herein described what will conductor 65, winding 6| of relay 66, and conductors 62, 63, 51 and 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This would result in the operation of relay 66, except for the fact that coin contacts 46-49 are still closed and a substantial short circuit is maintained around relay winding 6| via conductorf65, contact 58-59, conductor 64, resistor 54, (min contacts 46-49, and conductors 56, 63, and 62. The resistance value of resistor 54 should be sufficiently low so that there will not be sufilcient voltage drop across it under th preceding conditions to cause operation of relay 66. As soon as coin contact 46 disengages contact '49, this shortcircuit path will be'opened, and relay 60 will operate in series with relay 53, the circuit being established from secondary winding 33 along conductors 46, 56, 5|, winding 52, contacts 58-59, conductor 65, winding 6 and conductors 62, 63, 51 and 4| back to the other side of secondary winding 33. Under this condition, it will be noted that both relays 53 and 66 are now operated, and their respective armatures attracted.

When th machine is idle, lamp 12 is lighted intermittently in series with flasher button 13. This is designed to attract the attention of the public. Any other device such as a sign or an audible signal may be readily substituted for lamp 12, and flasher button 13.. The circuit for lamp 12, which indicates the idle condition, is established from transformer winding 33, along conductors 46, 56, and 86, closed relay contacts 18-19, conductor 11, closed relay contacts 15-14, conductor 82, flasher button 13, and conductor 6 I. The circuit is completed along conductors 63, 84, 63, 51 and 4| back to the other side of winding 33. Opening of contacts 15-14 upon energization of relay 66, breaks this circuit and extinguishes the idle condition indicator lamp 12. It is apparent that the circuit previously traced will cause standby lamp 85 to be energized by closure of contacts 15-16, which accompanies the opening of contacts 15-14. The purpose of standby lamp 85, is to indicate that the machine is ready to function, as soon as the vacuum tube cathodes of amplifier 25 are heated and ready for operation. When relay 53 operated upon closure of coin contacts 46-49, it closed its contacts 69-16.

occur if both windings should be energized simultaneously. It should be noted that winding 68 should be capable of intermittent energization without overheating, because as will appear later, this winding will be energized during the first passage of tape past magnetic heads 1, 8, and 9, and will be deenergized during the second such passage. This is not true of winding 86, nor of windings 88 and 89 of relay 61, because these latter windings receive only momentary impulses.

Energization of Winding 68 causes U-shaped contacts 96 to engage stationary contacts 9| and 92 establishing a circuit from power supply conductor 93, along conductor 94, closed contacts 92-96-9I and conductor 95 to power supply terminal 23 of amplifier 25. The other power supply terminal 24 of amplifier 25 is permanently connected to power supply conductor 96 by conductors 91 and 96. This causes energization of amplifier 25.

When the vacuum tube cathodes in amplifier 25 have become heated, a limited amount of direct current will be available at terminals 2| and 22 of said amplifier. The internal arrangements within the amplifier 25 are such that terminals 2| and 22 may be short .circuited without injury to any of the apparatus, by provision of suitable current limiting resistors within the amplifier. The current strength is adequate to energize relays 34 and 35 and to energize the obliterating magnetic head 1. The potential appearing across terminals 2| and 22 when th amplifier has reached its operating condition is transmitted from terminal 2| along conductors 99, I66, and 43 to winding |6I of relay I62, and from terminal 22 along conductor 44 and through resistor I63 to the other side of relay winding I6I. The operating characteristics of relay I62 and the value of resistance of resistor I63 are so adjusted that relay I62 will not operate until the cathodes of the vacuum tubes within amplifier 25 have reached their proper operating temperature, and it is also so adjusted with respect to relays 26 and 21 so that it operates substantially simultaneously therewith.

Upon operation of relay I62, it breaks contacts I65 and I64 and closes contacts I64 and I66. This establishes a circuit from transformer sec'- ondary winding 33 along conductors 46 and I61, winding 68 of relay 81, conductor 31, closed contacts II 6-I69 of relay I68, conductor II 2, closed contacts I64-I66 of relay I62, conductor H3, and conductor 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This circuit energizes relay winding 88, and relay 81 latches in its operated position closing its contacts ||4| I6 and ||5-I I1.

Closure of contacts II4-I I6 establishes a circuit from power conductor 93 along conductor 94, through closed contacts 92-96-9I of relay 61,

conductor II6, closed relay contacts II4-II6,

and conductor II9 to motor 5. The other terminal of motor 5 is permanently connected to the other side of the power supply via conductors I20, 91, and 96. This causes motor to operate, driving roller 3 and carrying endless magnetic re-'- cording tape I around and over the other rollers. Thus, it will be seen that tape I does not move until amplifier 25 is ready for operation, and that thereafter tape I passes at substantially constant speed under the magnetic heads 1,9, and 9.

Upon the operation of relay 81, contacts I I5I I 1 were also closed. This established a circuit from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40 and I2I, closed relay contacts II5II1, conductors 36 and I22,,win-ding I23 of relay I09, conductor I24, and conductor 4| back to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. This operated relay I09, breaking the circuit of contacts I09-I I0 and closing the circuit of contacts I09--I I I.

A circuit is now established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors 40 and I25 to indicating lamp I26 and continuing-along conductor I26 to electric time indicator I21. The circuit is completed via conductors I29, I 30, closed relay contacts III-I09, conductor II2, closed relay contacts I06I04, conductor 3, and conductor M to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. Time indicator I21 is an electric clock mechanism of the self starting type, having its period for one revolution corresponding approximately to the time required for tape I to travel once through the recording machine. The machine is now in condition to receive and record speech or music. Relays 26 and 21 are energized connecting input terminals I6 and I9 of amplifier 25 to microphone 26 and the output- Upon the release of relay 53, a circuit is established from ground terminal 2| of amplifier along conductors 99, I00, 43, I36, closed relay contacts I31I36, and conductors I39, I40, and 44 back to the direct current'supply terminal 22 of amplifier 25. This short circuits the direct current supply, releasing relays 26 and 21 and deenergizing obliterating head 1. Reproducing head 6 is now connected to amplifier input terminals I6 and I9. Output terminal 20 is connected to volume control 29 and loudspeaker 30, the other side of the output circuit being ground terminal 2|, which is permanently connected via conductors 99, I00 and MI. The tape I now imparts to magnetic reproducing head 6 the impulses which it previously received from recording head 9, and

the reproduced sounds issue fromloudspeaker 30 after amplification by amplifier 25. By provision of suitable equalizers, a single magnetic head may be used for both recording and r production, but

, separate heads have been indicat d for the purpose of simplifying theshowing'of the recording machine.

Tape I will continue again through the machine and after substantially all of the previously recorded sounds have been reproduced, notch I4 in tape I will again pass under roller I3, and contacts I0 and I I will again momentarily engage each other. This will send an impulse from transformer secondary winding 33 along conductors 40, I3I, tape contacts III-II, conductor 42, closed relay contacts I33-I32 of relay 60, and conductors I42, 39 and I to tripping or releasing windings 69 and 86 of relays 01 and 61 respectively. The impulse also is carried via; conductor I43 to electromagnetic counter I44. This registers one count on counter I44 and trips relays 91 and 61 into their normal or released condition, deenergizing amplifier 25 and motor 5 and chine that the machine is in condition for recording and time indicator I21 permits the user to adjust his recording interval to terminate at the end of the recording cycle.

After the tape I has traveled substantially once through the machine, notch I4 in tape I passes under roller I3 causing a momentary closure of contacts II and I0. At the instant of closure, a circuit is established from transformer secondary winding 33, along conductors -40 and I3I, tape contacts II-I0, conductor 42, closed contacts I 33'I34 of relay 60, conductors I35 and 65, closed contacts 56-59 of relay 53 and its'wlnding 52, and conductors 5|, back to conductor 40 again, short circuiting relay winding 52 and thereby releasing relay 5 3. Relay is held operated by the following circuit: starting from transformer secondary winding 33, conductors 40 and.|3|, tape contacts II-I0 conductor 42, closed contacts I33I34 of relay 60, conductor I35, winding 6|, and conductors 62, 63, 51 and 4| to the other side of transformer secondary winding 33. the circuit just traced includes tape contacts II-I0, it will open when contacts II--I0 open and release relay 60. Relays 53 and 60 are now both released and in condition to be re-operated by coin contacts 46 and 49. No provision is included for storing coin impulses but 'mechanism to perform this function may be readily added if desired. 4

Because y I I I opening the circuit of coil I23 of relay I06. The other side of transformer winding 33 is connected to tripping windings 66 and 69 via conductors 4| and I46, and to counter I44 via conductor 4|. This stops the machine and it is then ready to be used again.

A switch I41 is provided to obtain a reproduction of the sounds recordedwithout making a new recording, by eliminating the recording period from the cycle. When closed, and when the machine is operating so that relay winding I23 of relay I06 is energized, the switch I41 will hort-.

circuit direct current supply terminals 2| and 22 of amplifier 25 via conductors 44, I40, closed relay contacts I5I-'|50 of relay I06, conductor I49, gigitch I41 and conductors I46, I36, 43, I00, and

Whenever terminals 22 and 2| are short-circuited, the recording machine is in the reproducing condition because no energy is available for obliterating head 1 or for relays 26 and 21. In addition, relay I02 is deenergized, closing contacts I04 and I05 and lighting reproducing indicating light I52 through a circuit starting at transformer secondary winding 33, conductors 40, I2I, closed contacts II5I I1 of relay 91, conductors 36 and I53, lamp I62, conductors I54, closed contacts I05-I04 offrelay I02, and conductors H3 and 4| to the other-side of transformer secondary winding 33. Switch I41 does not interfere with starting of the machine, because relay I 06 is released except while the machine is running and does not connect switch I41 until relay. I02 has already performed its starting function. I

As has been described, upon dropping a, coin, a person may make a recording and hear It played back once. If he so desires, he may close switch 1, and by dropping another coin, hear the same recording repeated twice. There is a delay after each dropping of a coin, until the amplifier is ready for operation. This waiting period is indicated by the "standby pilot lamp, and as soon a the machine is running, either the recording lamp, or the reproducing lamp will be lighted, depending upon the position of switch I" during the first half of the cycle, and the reproducing lamp will always be lighted during the second half of the cycle. Although the specific apparatus above described utilizes a notch in the magnetic tape, it

is to be understood that suitable timing mechanism or other automatic means responsive to operation of the machine may be utilized to practice the invention.

I claim:

1. In an electromagnetic sound recording and reproducing machine, an endless magnetizable and demagnetizable recording medium, driving means operable during functioning of said machine and disposed to cause motion of said medium, and terminating means arranged to terminate operation of said driving means after substantially a predetermined integral number of complete passages of said medium through said machine, said terminating means including means for changing from recording to reproducing operation.

2. In a recording and reproducing machine having an endless flexible magnetic recording medium, manual starting means, and automatic electrically controlled means responsive to each passage of said medium through said machine, whereby the completion of the first passage of said medium will condition said machine for reproducing and the completion of the second such passage will automatically stop said machine. 7

3. In a magnetic recording device, comprising an endless flexible magnetic recording medium, manual operation initiating means, automatic means responsive to said operation initiating means and to successive passages of said recording medium through said machine, and additional manually controlled means, whereby after initiation of operation by said first named manual means recording or reproduction is under control of said second manually controlled means, and

after the first passage of said medium through said machine, reproduction will be provided regardless of the condition of said second manually controlled means, and after the second such passage the machine will automatically stop.

4. In a continuous magnetic tape recording and reproducing machine, means operable to initiate the running of said tape, switching means operative during said running and adapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passage through said machine of said tape, further switching means adapted to condition said machine for reproducing after said first passage of said tape, and automatic means disposed to stop said running at or about the completion of the second passage of said tape through said machine.

5. In a recording and reproducing device, an endless magnetizable recording medium, driving means for passing said medium through said device at substantially constant speed, and automatic means including limiting means operative simultaneously with said driving means and disposed to terminate operation of said driving means after substantially two complete passages of said medium through said device.

6. In a recording and reproducing machine having an endless flexible magnetic recording medium, starting means, and electrically controlled means responsive to each passage of said medium through said machine, whereby the completion of the first passage of said medium will condition said machine for reproducing and the copmpletion of the second such passage will stop said machine.

7. In a continuous magnetic tape recording and reproducing machine, means operable to initiate the running of said tape, switching means operative during said running and adapted to condition said machine for recording during the first passage through said machine of said tape, further switching means adapted to condition said machine for reproducing after said first passage of said tape, and means responsive to the substantial completion of the second passage of said tape through said machine and disposed to terminate said running of said tape.

EDMUND M. SQUIRE. 

